The Monday Morning Memo #4: Be a Noticer, Not a Judger

Happy Monday! This week’s focus is on being a noticer vs. a judger during classroom visits.📚 PROFESSIONAL STRATEGYWhen informally observing classroom instruction, shift from judging to noticing. Start by acknowledging what you see and hear without evaluation: "I'm noticing..." rather than "This is good/bad..." Naming our observations keeps them at an objective level; noticing activates the brain’s prefrontal cortex which moderates emotional reactivity. We create mental space between what we observe and any premature conclusions we might draw about a teacher’s practice. We can respond then more thoughtfully with our feedback.From my Choice Literacy article: "Off the Hook: How to Engage with and Reframe Our Obstacles in Order to Reduce Anxiety and Stress”🌱 PERSONAL TIPStart small in your observations if classroom visits are new to you. Begin with one aspect of instruction. Share what you noticed with the teacher, followed by a genuine question. This can lead to noticing/sharing two aspects of instruction, and so on. Build on success.📢 FOR YOUR TEAM & SCHOOLToday's Quote: Joke for Announcements: Which month of the year is the shortest? May. It only has three letters. (Source: Reader’s Digest)Bonus: Check out the Four-Week Instructional Walks Tracker in the printable version of this memo below! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readbyexample.substack.com/subscribe